Texas Accident & Injury News
Home fires are becoming more frequent in San Antonio.
Apartment Destroyed by Fire Started in Bathroom Fan
According to a KSAT News report, an apartment was destroyed by a fire hours after SAFD responded to a complaint about the smell of smoke coming from a bathroom fan.
SAFD responded to a call about a smoke smell in a Northwest Side apartment complex at around 12:00 a.m. on October 31st. After investigating, they shut off the electric breaker that gave power to the fan and left, despite the resident’s apparent insistence that they had not solved the problem. At around 4 a.m. the same night, the apartment was full of smoke, and the residents evacuated. The fire was contained in one apartment, and no one was injured. The Red Cross came to assist the residents who lost all of their belongings in the fire.
Did You Know?
29% of fires SAFD responded to in 2023 so far were in vacant homes, compared to only 16% in 2021.
How to Protect Your Home from Fire During the Winter Months
San Antonio got its first taste of what is expected to be a particularly cold winter last month. As we approach the holiday season and consistently colder weather, it’s important to review essential steps to keep your home safe from accidental fire.
Let’s take a look at winter fire safety tips from the US Fire Administration and the Texas Department of Insurance to keep your family safe this year.
Tip #1 — Be Careful With Heating Equipment
1 in 7 house fires are started by heating equipment. Make sure anything flammable is kept at least 3 feet away from equipment like:
- Space Heaters,
- Fireplaces,
- Radiators,
- and Wood Stoves.
Never leave space heaters on if you’re leaving the room. Also, you should never plug in more than one space heater in a single outlet to avoid electrical fires.
Tip #2 — Clean Chimneys and Vents
If you haven’t done so already, now is a great time to get your chimney and vents cleaned. This should be done by a professional at least once a year, and doing it before you’re going to be using the fireplace and/or heater a lot more is the perfect time.
If these aren’t regularly maintained, lint and dust can catch fire from your heater, and fires can start from the buildup in a dirty chimney.
Tip #3 — Safely Hang and Choose Holiday Decorations
It’s about time to bust out those holiday decorations and hang your lights, but make sure to follow these tips to avoid a dangerous mistake:
- Hang Lights with Hooks — Nails can damage cords, leading to possible electrical fires.
- Throw Away Damaged Cords and Bulbs — Replace any damaged cords and bulbs to avoid electrical fires.
- Use Electric Candles — Consider replacing some or all of your candle decor with electric candles. Candles can easily light decor when left unattended, even for a few minutes. Roughly 20 fires are started by candles every day in the U.S.
Of course, you can do everything correctly to prepare your home for winter fire safety and have it all ruined by faulty appliances, especially space heaters and lithium-ion batteries.
Did a Defective Product Start a Fire in Your Home/Apartment? Call Carabin Shaw
You and your family should never have to suffer injury or property damage because of a faulty appliance or battery. Call the team with 30 years of experience defending the rights of those injured by defective products in San Antonio at 800-862-1260 to get your case reviewed today. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.